Method, system and apparatus for providing demographically targeted television commercials

Claim 1

A cable or satellite television system for broadcasting different commercial messages to different audiences, comprising: a headend for transmitting television signals including a first television channel comprising television programs with periodic commercial message breaks and at least a second additional television channel comprising commercial messages; means for receiving (10) said television signals; tuning means (18) coupled to said receiving means for providing a selected channel for viewing; means (30, 36) for identifying authorization of said receiving means; means (22, 30) for determining when a commercial message break is about to occur on said first television channel; and selection means (30, 32), responsive to said determining means (22, 30) and said authorization identifying means (30, 36), for actuating the tuning means (18) to provide a particular commercial message channel for viewing during a commercial message break characterized in that, said means (30, 36) for identifying authorization of said receiving means (10) comprise means (36; 40, 124, 126, 128, 130; 42) for identifying demographic characteristics of a television viewer on a case by case basis, and that said means (30,36) for identifying authorization of said receiving means (10) are responsive to said means (36; 40, 124, 126, 128, 130; 42) for identifying said demographic characteristics of said television viewer for providing a particular commercial message transmitted from said headend based on said demographic characteristics.

Claim 5

A system in accordance with one of the preceeding claims wherein said headend transmits a first television channel comprising television programs with periodic commercial messages, and a second television channel comprising alternate commercial messages, wherein said selection means (30, 32) provides a commercial message from said first or second channel depending on said demographic characteristics.

Claim 6

A system in accordance with one of the preceeding claims wherein said headend transmits a plurality of alternate commercial message channels for use by said selection means (30, 32) in providing commercial messages to demographically targeted audiences.

Claim 8

A system in accordance with one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said selection means (30, 32) includes a timer (30) to provide for a return to said first television channel a predetermined time period after a commercial message break has commenced, in the event a commercial message from the second channel was provided during the break.

Claim 9

A system in accordance with one of claims 1 to 7 further comprising: means (22, 30) for determining when a commercial message break is about to end and for returning to said first television channel at the end of said break in the event said selection means (30, 32) has provided a commercial message from the second channel during the break.

Claim 10

A system in accordance with one of the preceding claims further comprising: means (30) for prioritizing the demographic characteristics of a plurality of television viewers watching a television together; wherein said means( 30, 36) for identifying authorization of said receiving means (10) is responsive to said prioritizing means (30) for providing a commercial message based on said prioritization.

Claim 11

A system in accordance with one of the preceding claims further comprising: means (30, 36) for storing data indicative of commercial messages provided by said selection means (30, 32) for subsequent retrieval and analysis by said headend.

Claim 20

A system or apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 19 characterized in that an apparatus for providing market research data concerning viewers and their utilization of cable or satellite services is provided which comprises data input means (120, 124, 126, 128, 130; 42) enabling a viewer to identify demographic characteristics and select television programs for viewing; a converter (10) for receiving cable or satellite television signals from a headend, and responsive to said data input means (120, 124, 126, 128, 130; 42) for providing said signals to a subscriber's television for viewing upon-entry of demographic and program selection data; means (36) for storing demographic and program selection data entered into said data input means; and means (30) for retrieving the stored data and transmitting it to said headend.

Claim 25

A method for broadcasting different commercial messages to different television audiences, comprising the steps of: transmitting television signals including a first channel containing television programs and periodic commercial messages and a second channel containing alternate commercial messages; identifying authorization of the television set receiving said television signals, selectively providing commercial messages from said first or second channel depending upon the authorization identification of said television set, characterized in that demographic characteristics of a viewer are identified on a case by case basis and that the authorization identification of said television set is responsive to said identified demographic characteristics of said viewer for providing a particular commercial message based on said demographic characteristics.

Claim 28

A method in accordance with one of claims 25 to 27 wherein identifying said demographic characteristics of said viewer comprises the step of receiving demographic data from the viewer.

Claim 29

A method in accordance with one of claims 25 to 28 comprising the further step of: prioritizing the demographic characteristics of a plurality of television viewers watching a television together; wherein the provision of commercial messages is based on said prioritization.